Inside the Phillies with MLB.com beat writer Todd Zolecki

Polanco Adjusts to Reserve Role

Charlie Manuel said earlier this week that while Placido Polanco can play, Kevin Frandsen will get the majority of playing time at third base the rest of the season.

In other words, Polanco, who has been an everyday player the majority of his 15-year career, is a bench guy.

Polanco said today that Manuel called him into his office to tell him about his decision.

“If I can’t play, I can’t play,” said Polanco, who has battled a back problem and other injuries this season. “He’s the manager. Right now, my hands are tied. I can’t really say much. I played the other day (Aug. 22) and I hurt it again. What am I going to say? Put me in? I told him, if I was healthy then this would be another conversation. But I’m not healthy.”

The Phillies have a $5.5 million option or a $1 million buyout on Polanco’s contract next season. The Phillies will take the buyout, which is one reason why Chase Utley is thinking about giving third base a try. That leaves Polanco’s future in baseball uncertain. He said he does not know what is going to happen, but he would like to play if he is healthy.

That is a big if.

“I have a lot of energy, I love the game and this is what I’ve been doing my entire life,” said Polanco, who estimates he has received about 10 cortisone injections over the course of his career. “But I have to be healthy. If I’m not healthy they can offer me $100 million and I’m not going to go out there.”

Like this:

LikeLoading...

Related

1 Comment

A classy response! I am sure that Placido Polanco is the ultimate team player. It is tough for him NOT to be out there, but he is not one to make an issue that would hurt the team. I hope that he might be back next year, even though he would have to take a much lower offer for the Phillies to be interested. But he has been a great player, and I hope the team (and fans) will honor his great attitude, in spite of the fact that his body won’t let him do what he would love to do (start every day at 3B).

Meta

The following are trademarks or service marks of Major League Baseball entities and may be used only with permission of Major League Baseball Properties, Inc. or the relevant Major League Baseball entity: Major League, Major League Baseball, MLB, the silhouetted batter logo, World Series, National League, American League, Division Series, League Championship Series, All-Star Game, and the names, nicknames, logos, uniform designs, color combinations, and slogans designating the Major League Baseball clubs and entities, and their respective mascots, events and exhibitions.